Gregg Allman: The return of a Legend

Boarding House Park to host sold-out show

The city's marketing campaign used to say that "There's a Lot to Like About Lowell" and apparently that's true for music legend Gregg Allman.

After all, the Allman Brothers Band founding member will be returning to Lowell on Saturday night for his debut appearance at Boarding House Park as part of the Lowell Summer Music Series.

You read that correctly. He's "returning to Lowell" not only because Allman was on the bill for the 2011 Lowell Summer Music Series (he had to cancel due to illness), but the Allman Brothers Band played at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium on June 24, 1971. It's a show that took place a few months before lead singer Duane Allman died in a motorcycle accident that October at the age of 24.

We don't have the set list for that show, but that weekend, they played at Fillmore East in New York City with Albert King and the J. Geils Band. That night, they played "Statesboro Blues," "Midnight Rider," and "Whipping Post" in a two-hour-plus set.

LSMS organizers told The Sun on Tuesday afternoon that Saturday night's show is sold out. There will be no additional seats released and no tickets on sale at Boarding House Park on the night of the show. It's the first sellout since Barenaked Ladies a few weeks ago, but LSMS officials told us that Lyle Lovett's Aug. 16 show is also close to selling out.

Advertisement

Allman's show is a rare opportunity to see a legend whose concerts are increasingly risky propositions given his declining health and the impending breakup of the Allman Brothers Band once fellow band members Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks leave the group at the end of 2014. (The band's current itinerary sees their 2014 tour ending in October with a series of dates at the Beacon Theatre in New York City, a place they have made home over the years with almost annual residencies).

Gregg Allman

As for Allman's health, he reportedly checked himself into a hospital in early July, causing him to cancel three shows in Seattle and Spokane, Wash. He's had previous battles with bronchitis, he was diagnosed with Hepatitis C in 2007 (which he has attributed to infection from a dirty tattoo needle) and in 2010, he had a liver transplant.

These are just some of the mileposts in the crazy, rambling life of the original "Ramblin' Man."

He's a Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famer, having been inducted with the band in 1995. Rolling Stone ranked him No. 70 on its list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. He endured the death of his brother at the start of their career and piloted the Allman Brothers Band over the next four-plus decades to endless tours, millions in album sales, and the respect of virtually everyone who is anyone in the music business.

Jaimoe's Jasssz Band

Not sure about that last part? Check out the "All My Friends: Celebrating the Songs & Voice of Gregg Allman" tribute concert that took place earlier this year in Atlanta and was later broadcast on AXS-TV. It featured performances from Haynes and Trucks, as well as Susan Tedeschi, Gregg's son Devon Allman, Robert Randolph, Sam Moore, Keb' Mo', Dr. John, Pat Monahan, John Hiatt, Taj Mahal, Widespread Panic, Trace Adkins, Vince Gill, Martina McBride, Eric Church, Jackson Browne and Zac Brown.

If you want evidence that Allman doesn't plan to stray too far from his bandmates, consider that opening for Allman in Lowell will be Jaimoe's Jassz Band featuring Allman Brothers Band drummer Jai Johnny "Jaimoe" Johanson.

You could go to 10 Allman Brothers Band shows in a row and never hear the same set list twice as the jam band is famous for changing the set from night to night, but at a concert last month in California, Gregg Allman played "Statesboro Blues," one of his biggest solo hits "I'm No Angel," as well as "Stormy Monday," "Melissa," "Whipping Post" and "One Way Out."

Welcome to your discussion forum: Sign in with a Disqus account or your social networking account for your comment to be posted immediately, provided it meets the guidelines. (READ HOW.)
Comments made here are the sole responsibility of the person posting them; these comments do not reflect the opinion of The Sun. So keep it civil.